CUMBRIA Police say vetting procedures are now “far more robust” after a watchdog condemned poor police vetting standards.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) looked at eight forces including Cumbria, reviewing hundreds of police vetting files.

It said it uncovered too many cases where people, including those with criminal records or links to organised crime, should not have been allowed to join the police and that it was "too easy" for them to do so.

The inspection, commissioned by former Home Secretary Priti Patel in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder, concluded a culture of misogyny, sexism and predatory behaviour towards female police officers and staff and members of the public still exists and is "prevalent" in many forces.

As well as forces linked to Ms Everard’s murderer, Wayne Couzens - The Metropolitan Police, Kent Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary - the inspection also scrutinised practices at Cumbria, South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Dorset and Devon and Cornwall forces.

A spokesperson for Cumbria Constabulary said: “His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has made a number of recommendations to the Constabulary, setting out ways our system of vetting can be improved upon moving forward.

“Cumbria Constabulary has prioritised these improvements in advance of the release of the report and, as a result, vetting processes are now far more robust than when the inspection took place last year.

"However, the Constabulary is committed to making further improvements to these processes.

“The HMICFRS report raises significant concerns regarding a culture of behaviour in policing which includes misogyny, sexism and predatory behaviour and the role flaws in vetting processes have played in enabling such a culture.

“Cumbria Constabulary’s most recent HMICFRS Peel Inspection, in April 2022, found the force has a “positive, supportive and inclusive culture” and rated the Constabulary as “Good” in both protecting vulnerable people and building, supporting and protecting the workforce.

“The report also highlighted how Cumbria Constabulary has the highest proportion of female officers of any police force.

“However, Cumbria Constabulary recognises that more can, should and will be done to improve the culture in policing. The force supports the National Police Chiefs’ Council in committing to act on the recommendations in the report to help put things right. The continued support of the public demands nothing less.

“This year, the Constabulary entered into a collaboration with the independent charity SafeLives as part of an intensive training drive to promote long-term cultural change in the Constabulary by developing hundreds of officers and staff with specialist training in domestic abuse

“Cumbria Constabulary holds its officers and staff to a high standard of conduct and integrity and, where those standards are found not to be met – whether through vetting, the force’s robust misconduct process or some other means – swift and effective action will be taken, and has been taken.”

A spokesperson for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary said: “The Civil Nuclear Constabulary requested to be one of the eight forces who took part in His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) review of vetting, misconduct, and misogyny in the police service.

“We are obviously concerned with the findings of the report, and we will now use this to drive the ongoing work that we commenced some time ago to ensure that our recruitment and vetting processes are as robust as possible.

“All CNC officers are already enhanced vetted however we recognise that no system is infallible. The report clearly shows that police vetting, misconduct and misogyny are an issue across the police service, and we will work with our national and Home Office counterparts, including the HMICFRS, College of Policing and National Police Chief’s Council to ensure lessons are learnt from the report and vetting and misconduct practices are tightened across the board.

“We have already taken steps since the inspection took place. We have increased the size and capability of our professional standards department, and further tightened our vetting practices in line with national guidance.

“The CNC worked closely with inspectors throughout the process and many of our officers and staff spoke to them as part of their review. We were pleased that the report noted our annual vetting appraisals as good practice, which ensure both staff and officers report any changes since their last vetting review and there is not a lengthy gap between. 

“The CNC is determined to raise standards, both in vetting and misconduct, and ensuring any officers with sexist or misogynistic views are rooted out. They have no place at the CNC or in UK policing.”

Among 43 recommendations made, HMICFRS said standards for assessing and investigating misconduct allegations must improve as well as the quality and consistency of vetting decision-making.

There should be minimum standards for pre-employment checks and better practices for corruption investigations. The watchdog also called for the "scope of the law" on police complaints and disciplinary procedures to be expanded.

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